Minutes to Kill by Melinda Leigh Page B

at night. Now that you pulled this stunt, guess who has to do your hours?”
    Well, that explained Lisa’s anger. Mick was making her work. Jewel wasn’t going to get any help from her.
    Not wanting to be sitting in mud, she dragged the bucket a few feet away from her corner and began to wash. She stripped off her filthy clothes. The water cooled her skin. As she lathered her body, she took stock. She couldn’t see her face, but her lip didn’t feel too bad now that she’d had some water. Just a bit swollen and sore on one side. The big bruise on her ribs was the only mark Mick had left on her. How had he made her hurt so much over her entire body without leaving much evidence?
    Practice.
    She shivered, goose bumps rising on her thighs. Best not to think about that. She used her cupped hands to rinse, making sure to keep both soap and dirt out of the remaining water in the bucket.
    Lisa kicked the dirty clothes to the door. “Back to the corner.”
    Jewel contemplated rushing her. Could she overpower the other woman in her weakened condition?
    “Don’t even think about it.” Lisa reached into her pocket and pulled out a knife. She unfolded the blade with one quick, practiced flick of her wrist. The desire to hurt Jewel shone from her eyes.
    Jewel went back to the corner. She was still hot and hungry, but she no longer felt like she was going to die at any moment. The bucket of water was still half full. She could save it for later.
    Lisa reached into the plastic bag and took out a Styrofoam container and a change of clothes. She handed the items to Jewel. The water had nearly evaporated from her skin already. She tugged on the shorts and T-shirt, then opened the container. Half an order of fries. They were cold and nasty, and obviously someone else’s leftovers, but she ate them. Couldn’t afford to be too particular about her calories. The salt tasted spicy on her swollen lips.
    “That’s all you get.” Lisa collected the dirty clothes and shoved them in a black trash bag.
    “Thanks,” Jewel said.
    Lisa flushed, her eyes turned angry. “Don’t thank me. You ruined everything. We lost a night’s income and a good location, plus Mick has to lie low. He’s pissed. And I sure as hell don’t want to go back to hoing. So don’t look to me for favors.”
    And with that tender statement, Lisa kicked over the bucket. The remaining water poured into the dirt. A tiny rivulet wound its way to Jewel’s knees. No water for later.
    Lisa gestured with the blade. “Put the cuffs on.”
    Her chance for escape, as slim as it had been, was gone. With a sinking sensation in her belly, Jewel squatted and fastened the handcuffs around her wrists.
    Lisa left the shed. The padlock closed with a metallic snap.
    There couldn’t be more than a few hours of daylight left. She’d had enough water to keep her alive until tomorrow. But then what? What did Mick have planned?

Chapter Ten
    Hannah blinked the airbag dust from her eyes. The dashboard light cast menacing shadows on the man’s lean face as he leaned into the car and dragged out the screaming girl.
    “He’s gonna kill me,” she sobbed.
    Terror rounded her eyes as she scrambled for a hold on the car seat. She reached for Hannah, panic stiffening her fingers into desperate claws. Hannah struggled to move, but her body was held fast by the seat belt. The latch refused to release her. The space between them grew as if being stretched.
    “No!” Hannah’s fingers worked at the jammed belt release.
    Jewel’s face blurred and shifted until it was little Carson being carried away, his small body kicking and fighting for freedom, his eyes pleading with Hannah to save him.
    Fear squeezed her lungs in a vise grip. Her breaths locked down.
    Hannah jolted. Her body jackknifed to a sitting position. Lightheaded and confused, she drew in a lungful of painful air. She put a hand on her chest. Under her sweat-soaked T-shirt, her heart rapped against her ribs like insistent